“He was an absolute joy to coach,” said Rosato. “He set a great example for all of his teammates, but more importantly for the younger players. He was a mature student-athlete who his teammates could look to for advice and support.”

Lane’s friends, loved ones and supporters Down Under lashed out at the alleged killers and American gun culture.

Former deputy prime minister Tim Fischer has urged Australian tourists to boycott the US in the wake of Lane’s slaying.

“Tourists thinking of going to the USA should think twice,” said Fischer, an outspoken gun-control advocate. “This is the bitter harvest and legacy of the policies of the NRA that even blocked background checks for people buying guns at gun shows.”

“People should take this into account before going to the United States, “ Fischer continued. “I am deeply angry about this because of the callous attitude of the three teenagers (but) it’s a sign of the proliferation of guns on the ground in the USA.”

He added: “There is a gun for almost every American.”

The suspects’ parents insisted their kids are innocent.

“My son is not that way,” said mom Jennifer Luna, claiming her son was at home when the shooting happened. “My son is a good kid.”

The father of 15-year-old suspect Edwards said his kid has never been in a gang. The dad said he feels for Lane’s loved ones.

“My prayers go out to them,” the father said. “I have lost several loved ones recently myself. I feel sorry for the individuals and family.”

Video on Vine surfaced of one of the accused, James Edwards, brandishing a gun, and saying, “B—h we up dem poles, f— with me.”[/tab][/tabs]

[tabs type=”horizontal”][tabs_head][tab_title][/tab_title][/tabs_head][tab]Lane’s American girlfriend said she’s lost “best friend, telling the Herald Sun that she didn’t know what punishment would be appropriate.

“I don’t want them to have any future that Chris wasn’t able to have as well,” said Sarah Harper, 23.

“It’s been pretty rough. It’s been hard knowing he was taken so close to home, let alone taken in the way he was. To be pointed out like that …”

Through no fault of his own, Lane was tragically at the wrong place at the wrong time, cops said.

“They saw Christopher jog by the house they were at, they chose him to be the target, they got in the car, drove up behind him and shot him in the back,” Ford said.

“He [one of the suspects] said the 16-year-old fired the shot.”

The three teenagers are being held in the Stephens County Jail in Duncan.

Lane had only been back in the US for three days after an eight-week break in Australia with Harper.

The heartbroken girlfriend said she and Lane had joked about America’s soft gun laws before he was shot.

“He wasn’t a fan of guns,” she said.

She fondly described Lane as a smart, kind and curious guy who would “do anything for anybody”.

“It was more of a personality (we had in common), not so much interests. He was intellectual, into world news, and I found that quite boring,” Harper said.

“He really wanted to travel more. He loved the idea of seeing the world.”